Process and apparatus for defined communication of polymer gels

Abstract

An apparatus and process for defined comminution of polymer gels, wherein the apparatus includes a static cutting element in the form of a cutting screen. The cutting element is optionally supported, and has pretensioned wires, rods, fibers, wovens, stencils or profiles. Optionally, a dynamic cutting element is provided for shortening the gel strands or particles obtained by means of the static cutting unit. Also, a feed unit is provided for feeding the polymer gel to the static cutting element in a clamped-in, shape-stable state. The feeding of the gel is effected batchwise or continuously.

1. An apparatus for comminution of polymer gel, said apparatus comprising:
 a static cutting unit including a cutting screen for obtaining gel strands, wherein the cutting screen is formed of pretensioned members, and the static cutting unit includes a stiffening grid for supporting the cutting screen; 
 a dynamic cutting element, positioned downstream of the static cutting unit, for cutting the gel strands formed by the static cutting unit into particles of uniform size and shape; and 
 a feed unit for feeding the polymer gel to the static cutting unit in a shape-stable state, wherein the feed unit is operable to feed the polymer gel batchwise or continuously, and the dynamic cutting element comprises at least one tensioned wire supported in a movable support frame such that movement of the support frame effects back and forth movement of the tensioned wire. 
 
   
   
     2. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the static cutting unit and the dynamic cutting unit are spaced from each other so that the static and the dynamic cutting units are not in contact with each other, and wherein the spacing between the static cutting unit and the dynamic cutting unit is not greater than 10 mm. 
   
   
     3. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the feeding unit comprises: a vertically disposed container having a detachable lid and a detachable base; and a vertically movable plunger for pressing out the polymer gel from the container, wherein the polymer gel is gelled in the container so that the polymer gel is maintained in a shape stable state prior to being pressed out of the container by the plunger. 
   
   
     4. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cutting screen is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of steel, iron, aluminum, copper, and tantalum. 
   
   
     5. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pretensioned members of the cutting screen have a rectangular, square, triangular, hexagonal or round shape, and the pretensioned members are flattened or beveled on at least one side, and the diameter or thickness of each of the members is 0.05 to 10 mm. 
   
   
     6. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cutting screen forms a plurality of interspaces each of which has at least one side that is 0.1 to 200 mm in length. 
   
   
     7. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one tensioned wire is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of steel, iron, aluminum, copper, and tantalum.